1. The Union shall conduct a military training mission in Mali (EUTM Mali) in order to assist the Malian Armed Forces (MAF) in restoring their military capacity with a view to enabling them to conduct military operations aiming at restoring Malian territorial integrity and reducing the threat posed by terrorist groups, and to provide military assistance to the G5 Sahel Joint Force as well as national armed forces in the G5 Sahel countries. EUTM Mali shall not be involved in combat operations.
2. The strategic objectives of EUTM Mali shall be to:
(a) contribute to improving the operational capacity of the MAF under the control of Mali’s legitimate civilian authorities;
(b) support the G5 Sahel through making the G5 Sahel Joint Force and the national armed forces in the G5 Sahel countries operational.
3. For the purpose of the objective referred to in point (a) of paragraph 2, EUTM Mali shall provide the MAF with military advice, training, including pre-deployment training, education and mentoring, through non-executive accompaniment up to the tactical level, in order for EUTM Mali to be able to follow up on the activities of the MAF and to monitor its performance and behaviour, including with regard to the respect for human rights and international humanitarian law.
4. For the purpose of the objective referred to in point (b) of paragraph 2, EUTM Mali shall provide the G5 Sahel Joint Force and national armed forces in the G5 Sahel countries with military advice, training and mentoring, through non-executive accompaniment up to the tactical level.
5. EUTM Mali shall follow a gradual and modular approach for activities outside Mali in support of the G5 Sahel.
6. The activities of EUTM Mali shall be conducted in close coordination and cooperation between Member States and Union institutions and bodies, in line with the EU’s Integrated Approach, and with other actors involved in the support to the MAF, in particular the United Nations (UN), the Barkhane operation and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to enhance coherence of actions, ensure deconfliction and suitably optimise resources to best effect, with due respect for the Union institutional framework. Those activities shall be supported by the Regional Advisory and Coordination Cell (RACC) in EUCAP Sahel Mali.]